MANSFIELD – The stage was alive Tuesday night at the Renaissance Theatre as Miss Ohio contestants modeled gowns fit for a princess, sashaying on the stage with energy and passion exhibited by top models in LA, New York or Paris.

The Miss Ohio event, "Cabaret, A Night of Stars & Styles and A Taste of Mansfield" drew quite a crowd for the fun-filled evening featuring Miss Ohio performer Johnny Porrazzo, an Atlanta-based singer and pianist.

Porrazzo, a longtime performer on the Miss Ohio stage, returned this week after about an eight-year absence, delighting the crowd with some of his favorite songs, including "My Girl," "Georgia" and "Piano Man."

The beloved performer from Youngstown, now of Atlanta, asked the crowd to sing with him on numerous songs, joking and congratulating the audience for their efforts or lack of.

Miss Ohio contestants, all 22 of them, stepped it up and rocked the stage showcasing fashions from Henri's Cloud Nine and Debra Weiss Designs, and the price tags were still on.

Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen contestants and princesses showed off their favorite outfits from their own personal closets.

Porrazzo said he began playing the piano as a youngster.

"I'm so thrilled to be back in Mansfield," he said after the show.

Porrazzo said there will be some surprises on Saturday night when the new Miss Ohio is crowned, but Miss Ohio folks swore him to secrecy.

Normally, Porrazzo is in Italy every summer, but this year, he wasn't going.

"It's also fun to meet people who work back stage and the ladies who run the concessions, the people at the hotel, the restaurants we go to. You end up making friends that last a long time," he said. "Someone from Applebee's who are coming to my club in Atlanta. That's priceless."

Bob Zettler of Mansfield, a former Miss Ohio director, came to see Porrazzo perform.

During the style show, reigning Miss Ohio MacKenzie Bart entertained the crowd with her trademark song, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," which she sang with puppet Roxy.

On Wednesday, the competition kicks off with Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen pageant.

Eighteen teen contestants will compete for the title. Before the night is over, one will become Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen 2015 and represent Ohio at Miss America's Outstanding Teen at the end of July in Orlando, Florida.